Watch Brothers Till We Die

Brothers Till We Die is an Italian poliziottesco film released in 1978 during the genre's peak popularity, a time when Italian cinema was known for producing gritty, action-packed crime dramas. Directed by Umberto Lenzi, this film is a sequel to the highly successful 1976 movie "The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist" and features the return of antihero character "the hunchback", played with remarkable intensity by Tomas Milian. The film also stars Pino Colizzi and Isa Danieli in important roles, contributing to the dynamic narrative and complex character relationships that drive the story forward.

Set against the rough and tumble backdrop of Rome's underbelly, Brothers Till We Die delves into the life of petty criminal and thief Luca Di Angelo (Tomas Milian), also known for his signature hunchbacked appearance. With a distinctive mix of cunning and unpredictability, Luca navigates the dangerous world of organized crime, expressing a blend of rogue charm and ruthless ambition.

The film begins with Luca trying to stay afloat and maintain his reputation in the crime-ridden streets, where betrayal and violence are rampant. He is a man driven by a sense of loyalty and a code of honor among thieves, values that are continuously tested as he entangles himself deeper into the world of crime. Luca's motivations are complex and partly rooted in his commitment to his brother, as suggested by the movie's title, alluding to the bond that keeps him grounded amidst the chaos of his chosen life path.

Pino Colizzi plays Inspector Sarti, a representative of the embattled law enforcement agents who are constantly trying to stay one step ahead of the criminals they're pursuing. Unlike typical villainous depictions of such characters, Colizzi's Sarti is nuanced, embodying the struggle of the law against the frequently insurmountable wave of crime. His determination to clean up the streets places him on a collision course with Luca, creating a cat and mouse game that epitomizes the poliziotteschi genre.

Isa Danieli appears as a supporting character who adds depth to the storyline. She brings to life the personal drama intersecting with the criminal aspects, providing a platform for the film to explore the human side of its characters. Her portrayal goes beyond the superficial, lending a soul to the otherwise testosterone-fueled environment of crime and policing.

As with many films in the genre, Brothers Till We Die excels in delivering car chases, shootouts, and physical confrontations, all choreographed with a raw intensity that matches the film's tone. The action sequences are set against a soundtrack that heightens the emotional and dramatic tension, featuring music that melds perfectly with the era's style.

The production design captivates with its gritty realism, presenting Rome as a labyrinthine sprawl where danger lurks in every shadowed alley and behind the facades of seemingly ordinary buildings. This attention to setting forms the perfect stage on which the characters' drama plays out. The cinematography captures the story's urgency and grit, making effective use of both the urban architecture and the characters' nuanced expressions.

Encapsulating the moral ambiguity of the genre, Brothers Till We Die portrays neither its criminal antihero nor its law enforcers as entirely virtuous or entirely villainous. Lenzi and his cast skillfully navigate these shades of gray, imbuing the film with a philosophical edge that invites viewers to question the dichotomy between law and disorder, and whether the line separating them is as clear-cut as it might seem.

One of the reasons why Brothers Till We Diet resonated with audiences of its time was due to Milian's performance, which cemented the character of Luca Di Angelo in the pantheon of cult film icons. Milian's ability to balance ferocity with vulnerability, charisma with desperation, brought a level of depth that was unusual for action-driven crime dramas. The character's multi-layered personality helps to drive the plot forward, revealing the intricacies of a life entwined with criminality.

While the core narrative of Brothers Till We Die is a dark and violent journey through the criminal landscape of Rome, the film also touches on themes of familial bonds, loyalty, and the inescapable nature of one's past. It examines the idea of redemption and whether it's attainable in a life overshadowed by crime, and how the ties of brotherhood can influence one's destiny.

The film concludes in a way that maintains the tension and suspense that characterize poliziottesco, leaving viewers pondering the outcomes for each character. Brothers Till We Die remains a quintessential Italian crime drama, capturing the zeitgeist of its era while presenting a story that resonates beyond its action-packed surface, inviting a closer look at the human condition amidst chaos and wrongdoing.

Brothers Till We Die is a 1978 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.